Device capable of adhering to a wall surface by suction and treating it

ABSTRACT

A device capable of adhering to a wall surface by suction by the pressure of an ambient fluid and treating the wall surface, which comprises a pressure receiver member and a partition defining a pressure reduction zone in cooperation with the pressure receiver member and the wall surface. 
     In one aspect, the partition has a sealing function of preventing inflow of a large amount of an outside fluid into the pressure reduction zone, and a treating function of treating the wall surface by being moved in a required manner. 
     In another aspect, the partition has the above sealing function, and a travelling function of moving the device, by being rotated about an axis of rotation slightly inclined to an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the wall surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a device capable of suction-adhering to a wallsurface by the pressure of an ambient fluid such as air or water andtreating the wall surface. More specifically, it relates, although notexclusively, to a device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surfaceof a ship or building and cleaning or otherwise treating the wallsurface.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A device for performing work such as cleaning of an outside wall surfaceof a ship, an outside wall surface of an oil reservior tank, an outsidesurface of a tall building, etc. is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,378to F. Urakami which comprises a pressure receiver housing, a pluralityof wheels provided in the pressure receiver housing for contact with thewall surface, a partition having one end connected to the pressurereceiver housing and adapted to define a substantially fluid-tightpressure reduction zone in cooperation with the pressure receiverhousing and the wall surface upon partial contact with the wall surface,means for discharging fluid from the pressure reduction zone to create avacuum within the pressure reduction zone, and working means provided inthe pressure receiver housing.

In this conventional device, a vacuum is formed within the pressurereduction zone by vacuum-producing means, and a part of the partition iscontacted fluid-tight with the wall surface by the fluid pressure actingon the partition owing to a difference in fluid pressure between theinside and outside of the pressure reduction zone. In the meanwhile, thefluid pressure acting on the pressure receiver housing owing to adifference in fluid pressure between the inside and outside of thepressure reduction zone is transmitted to the wall surface via thewheels. As a result, the device is caused to adhere by suction to thewall surface. The device suction-adhering to the wall surface is adaptedto move along the wall surface by driving the wheels. Hence, theabove-described device can adhere to the wall surface by suction and canmove along it. By working means provided in it, it can perform thedesired work such as cleaning of the wall surface.

In the known device, means for causing the device to adhere by suctionto the wall surface and move along it and treating means for performingtreatments such as cleaning of the wall surface are constructedindependently from each other. This structure increases the size andweight of the entire device and leads to a high cost of production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and excellentdevice which can surely adhere to a wall surface by suction and treatthe wall surface in a required manner by a simple construction, andwhich is conductive to a reduction in size and the cost of production.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and excellentdevice capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and uniformlytreating the wall surface while moving along it.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the followingdescription.

According to this invention, there is provided a device capable ofadhering to a wall surface by suction by the pressure of an ambientfluid and treating the wall surface, said device comprising

a pressure receiver member made of a rigid or semirigid material,

a partition provided on that side of the pressure receiver member whichfaces the wall surface, the partition being movable relative to thepressure receiver member, and a part of the partition being adapted tomake contact with the wall surface to define a pressure reduction zonein cooperation with the pressure receiver member and the wall surface,

means for creating a vacuum within the pressure reduction zone bydischarging the fluid from the pressure reduction zone, and

a driving source mounted on the pressure receiver member for moving thepartition with respect to the pressure receiver member;

wherein the device is caused to adhere to the wall surface by suctionowing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone, and the wall surface is treated bymoving the partition by the driving source.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided adevice capable of adhering to a wall surface by suction by the pressureof an ambient fluide and treating the wall surface, said devicecomprising

a main body,

a pressure receiver member made of a rigid or semirigid material andmounted on the main body for free relative movement with respect to themain body,

a partition provided on that side of the pressure receiver member whichfaces the wall surface, one end portion of the partition being connectedto the pressure receiver member, and a part of the partition beingadapted to make contact with the wall surface to define a pressurereduction zone in cooperation with the pressure receiver member and thewall surface,

means for creating a vacuum within the pressure reduction zone bydischarging the fluid from the pressure reduction zone, and

a driving source mounted on the main body for moving the pressurereceiver member with respect to the main body;

wherein the device is caused to adhere to the wall surface by suctionowing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone, and the wall surface is treated bymoving the partition by the driving source.

In these devices of the invention, a part of the partition is adapted tomake contact with the wall surface to define the pressure reduction zonein cooperation with the pressure receiver member and the wall surface,and the partition or the pressure receiver member to which the partitionis connected is mounted movably with respect to the pressure receivermember or the main body of the device. Accordingly, the partition has asealing function of preventing an outside fluid from flowing in a largeamount into the pressure reduction zone and a treating function oftreating the wall surface in a desired manner by being moved withrespect to the pressure receiver member or the main body of the device.The devices, therefore, do not separately require means for treating thewall surface, and can be simplified and reduced in size.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided adevice capable of adhering to a wall surface by suction by the pressureof an ambient fluid and treating the wall surface, said devicecomprising

a pressure receiver member made of a rigid r a semirigid material,

a partition provided on that side of the pressure receiver member whichfaces the wall surface, the partition being rotatable with respect tothe pressure receiver member about an axis of rotation slightlyinclinded to an axis substantially perpendicular to the wall surface,and a part of the partition being adapted to make contact with the wallsurface to define a pressure reduction zone in cooperation with thepressure receiver member and the wall surface,

means for creating a vacuum within the pressure reduction zone bydischarging the fluid from the pressure reduction zone, and

a driving source mounted on the pressure receiver member for rotatingthe partition with respect to the pressure receiver member;

wherein the device is caused to adhere to the wall surface by suctionowing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone, and the device is moved by rotating thepartition by the driving source.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided adevice capable of adhering to a wall surface by suction by the pressureof an ambient fluid and treating the wall surface said device comprising

a main body,

a pressure receiver member made of a rigid or semirigid material andmounted on the main body for free movement about an axis of rotationslightly inclined to an axis substantially perpendicular to the wallsurface,

a partition provided on that side of the pressure receiver member whichfaces the wall surface, one end portion of the partition being connectedto the pressure receiver member, and a part of the partition beingadapted to make contact with the wall surface to define a pressurereduction zone in cooperation with the pressure receiver member and thewall surface,

means for creating a vacuum within the pressure reduction zone bydischarging the fluid from the pressure reduction zone, and

a driving source mounted on the main body for rotating the pressurereceiver member with respect to the main body;

wherein the device is caused to adhere by suction to the wall surfaceowing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone, and the device is moved by rotating thepartition by the driving source.

In these devices of the invention, a part of the partition is adapted tomake contact with the wall surface to define the pressure reduction zonein cooperation with the pressure receiver member and the wall surface.The partition or the pressure receiver member to which the partition isconnected is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation slightlyinclined to an axis substantially perpendicular to the wall surface withrespect to the pressure receiver member or the main body of the device.Accordingly, the partition has a sealing function of preventing anoutside fluid from flowing in a large amount into the pressure reductionzone, and a travellig function of moving the device by being rotatedwith respect to the pressure receiver member or the main body of thedevice. The partition can therefore serve also as part of travellingmeans for moving the device, and the simplification and size reductionin the device can be achieved.

In embodiments of these devices, the partition has a treating functionof treating the wall surface in addition to the sealing function and thetravelling function. As a result, the device do not separately requiremeans for treating the wall surface. Thus, the present inventionachieves further simplification and size reduction in devices capable ofmoving along a wall surface and treating it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a first embodiment of the deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rough view showing the state in which a job of treating awall surface is done by using the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5-A is a sectional view showing the peripheral edge portion of apressure receiver member in the device of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5-B is a sectional view showing the peripheral edge portion of apressure receiving member in the device equipped with a modifiedpartition on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the peripheral edge portion of apressure receiving member in the device equipped with another modifiedpartition on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII--VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII--XII of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 13-A and 13-B are simplified views for illustrating the travellingdirections of the device shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the deviceconstructed in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the device constructed in accordance with thisinvention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

With reference mainly to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of the deviceof this invention will be described.

The apparatus of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes apressure receiver member 2 made of a rigid or semirigid material such asa steel plate. The pressure receiver member 2 may be of any suitableshape which defines a pressure reduction zone 6 in cooperation with apartition and a wall surface to which the device adheres by suction. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the pressure receiver member 2 is of agenerally circular shape. A shaft member 8 is fixed to a central part ofthe outside surface of the pressure receiver member 2 (that surface ofthe pressure receiver member 2 which is opposite to the surface facingthe wall surface 4). It has a large-diameter portion 8a extendingsubstantially perpendicularly outwardly and a small-diameter portion 8bextending further outwardly from the large-diameter portion. Thelarge-diameter portion 8a and the small-diameter portion 8b of the shaftmember 8 are each rotatably mounted on a main body 12 of the devicethrough bearings 10. Specifically, the large-diameter portion 8a isrotatably supported on a cylindrical wall 14 of the main body 12 throughthe bearing 10, and the small-diameter portion 8b is rotatably supportedon a cylindrical projecting wall 18 extending outwardly from an upperwall 16 of the main body 12 through the bearing 10. It will beunderstood from FIG. 3 that the bearings 10 used are those for thrustloads and radial loads. The free end of the shaft member 8 projectsoutwardly through the cylindrical projecting wall 18, and a pulley 20having two V-shaped grooves is mounted on the free projecting end of theshaft member 8. A driving source 22 such as an electric motor is mountedon the main body 12 of the device. A pulley 24 having two V-shapedgrooves is mounted on the output terminal of the driving source 22 as inthe shaft member 8. Two belts 26 are wrapped between the pulleys 20 and24. Hence, when the driving source 22 is rotated, the shaft member 8 isrotated in a direction of an arrow 26 (FIG. 1) via the belts 26, and thepressure receiver member 2, in turn, is rotated about the central axisof the shaft member 8, i.e. an axis of rotation extending substantiallyperpendicularly to the wall surface 4.

A rigid frame member 28 is fixed to main body 12 of the device, andwheels 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are rotatably mounted respectively on fourleg portions 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d of the frame member 28 (FIG. 1). Aswill be described in detail hereinafter, in this embodiment, the wheels32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are urged against, and kept in contact with, thewall surface 4 by the pressure of an ambient fluid acting on thepressure receiver member 2. Two electric motors 34a and 34b constitutinga driving source are attached to the frame member 28. Preferably, theelectric motors 34a and 34b can rotate in two directions. The electricmotor 34a is drivingly connected to the wheels 32a and 32b via asuitable power transmission means such as a chain 36 and a sprocket torotate the wheels 32a and 32b. Likewise, the electric motor 34b isdrivingly connected to the wheels 32c and 32d via a suitable powertransmission means such as a chain 38 and a sprocket to rotate thewheels 32c and 32d. In the illustrated embodiment, four wheels are used.Alternatively, three or five or more wheels may be used. Furthermore,instead of the wheels, two or more endless tracks known per se may beused. In this specification, the term "wall contacting members" refersto the wheels or tracks which enable the rigid frame member to travel onthe wall surface.

A partition 40 is disposed on the peripheral edge portion of the insidesurface of the pressure receiver member 2 (that surface of the pressurereceiver member 2 which faces the wall surface 4). As can be easily seenfrom FIG. 3, one end of the partition 40 is connected to the pressurereceiver member 2, and a part of the partition 40 make contact with thewall surface 4. In cooperation with the pressure receiver member 2 andthe wall surface 4, the partition 40 defines the pressure reduction zone6. Preferably, at least that part of the partition 40 which makescontact with the wall surface 4 can be displaced by a relatively smallforce toward and away from the wall surface 4 with respect to thepressure receiver member 2. Accordingly, in the first embodiment, thepartition 40 is constructed of a relatively thin plate-like annularmember 42 and a relatively thick annular member 44 fixed to theperipheral part of the annular member 42, as shown in FIG. 3. One endportion of the partition 40, i.e., the inner circumferential portion ofthe annular member 42, is connected to the peripheral edge part of theinner surface of the pressure receiver member 2 by a suitable means suchas a bolt 46, and the inner circumferential part of the annular member42 is pressed against the pressure receiver member 2 by a pressing plate47. The annular member 42 is formed preferably of a flexible materialsuch as a polyurethane rubber. This enables the inner circumferentialportion of the annular member 42, i.e., that portion of the annularmember 42 which is connected to the pressure receiver member 2, to bedisplaced by a relatively small force toward and away from the wallsurface 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular member 44 is alsomade of a flexible material such as a polyurethan rubber.

The pressure reduction zone 6 defined by the pressure receiver member 2,the partition 40 and the wall surface 4 is caused to communicate withmeans for forming a vacuum within the pressure reduction zone 6, such asa vacuum pump or a liquid pump. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, anaxially extending hollow portion 48 is formed in the large-diameterportion 8a of the shaft member 8. The hollow portion 48 is caused tocommunicate with the pressure reduction zone 6 through an opening formedin the pressure receiver member 2. A stepped portion 8c is formed in thelarge-diameter portion 8a of the shaft member 8 (more specificallybetween the small diameter portion 8b and that part of thelarge-diameter portion 8a which is supported on the bearing 10). Anannular space 50 is defined between the peripheral surface of thestepped portion 8c and the inner circumferential surface of thecylindrical wall 14 of the main body 12 of the device. The hollowportion 48 commumicates with the annular space 50 through a plurality ofholes 52 formed in a stepped portion 8c. A connecting portion 54 isformed in the cylindrical wall 14 as an integral unit. One end portionof a flexible hose 56 is connected to the connecting portion 54, and itsother end is connected to an exhaust means such as a vacuum pump 58 viaa separator 57. The vacuum pump 58 is operated, for example, by anengine 60. Desirably, a vacuum breaker (not shown) is provided in orderprevent the vacuum produced within the pressure reduction zone 6 fromattaining a degree of vacuum above a certain limit.

The device described above can be applied, for example, to a job oftreating the outside wall surface 4 of an oil reservoir tank 62 as shownin FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the illustrated device can be operated by a remotecontrol method, and the driving source 22 and the electric motors 34aand 34b provided in the device can be operated and controlled when theoperator manipulates a control box 65 connected to the device through acable 63. A rope 64 is stretched alongside the wall surface and a knownfall-preventing member 66 is secured to the rope 64. The fall-preventingmember 66 is equipped with a wind-up drum (not shown), and an output endof the rope 68 wound upon the wind-up drum is connected to the framemember 28, for example, of the illustrated device. On the other hand,the separator 57, the vacuum pump 58 and the engine 60 are secured to atrack 70 movable over the ground.

The operation and advantages of the illustrated device will be describedmainly with reference to FIG. 3. For example, when the vacuum pump 58 isoperated in the state shown in FIG. 4, a fluid (air when the device isused in the open atmosphere as in FIG. 4) within the pressure reductionzone 6 is discharged out of the zone 6 via the hollow portion 48 of theshaft member 8, the holes 52 formed in the shaft member 8, the annularspace 50 and the flexible hose 56, whereby a vacuum is created withinthe pressure reduction zone 6. Preferably, at this time, a seal member71 is mounted, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 in order to prevent theinflow of a fluid from outside into the annular space 50.

One end portion of the partition 40 is connected to the pressurereceiver member 2 so that it can be displaced toward and away from thewall surface 4 by a relatively small force. On the other hand, thewheels 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are provided in the pressure receivermember 2 through the rigid frame 28 substantially all. When a vacuum iscreated within the pressure reduction zone 6, substantially all thepressure of an ambient fluid acting on the pressure receiver member 2owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone 6 is transmitted to the wheels 32a, 32b,32c and 32d from the pressure receiver member 2 via the bearings 10, themain body 12 of the device and the rigid frame 28, and furthertransmitted to the wall surface via these wheels, as can be easily seenfrom FIG. 3. As a result, the device is caused to adhere to the wallsurface 4 by suction.

On the other hand, the pressure of an ambient fluid acting on thepartition 40, particularly on the annular member 42, owing to adifference in fluid pressure between the inside and outside of thepressure reduction zone 6 acts so as to bias the partition 40, i.e. theannular member 42 and the annular member 44, toward the wall surface 4and contact the annular member 44 with the wall surface 4, as shown by abroken arrow in FIG. 5-A. Consequently, the partition 40 (the annularmember 44 in the embodiment) makes contact with the wall surface 4, andthe contacting pressure makes possible a job of treating the wallsurface 4. The pressure reduction zone 6 defined by the partition 40 issubstantially fluid tight, or may have some air permeability.

When the driving source 22 is energized while the device adheres to thewall surface 4 in this way, the pressure receiver member 2 is rotated inthe direction of arrow 26 (FIG. 1) via the pulley 24, the belts 26, thepulley 20 and the shaft member 8. As a result, the partition 40 is alsorotated in the direction of arrow 26 as a unit with the pressurereceiver member 2, and by the rotation of the partition 40, the wallsurface 4 can be cleaned. In the suction-adhering state, a part of thepartition 40, i.e. the annular member 44, is kept in contact with thewall surface 4. Thus, when the partition 40 is rotated by theenergization of the driving source 22, the annular member 44 moves whileacting on the wall surface 4 and thereby cleans the surface 4. In theillustrated embodiment, the one end portion of the partition 40 isconnected to the pressure receiver member 2, so that it can be displacedtoward and away from the wall surface 4 by a relatively small force, andthe partition 40 is brought into contact with the wall surface 4 by thepressure of an ambient fluid acting on it. Hence, the pressure ofcontact between the partition 40 and the wall surface 4, namely thepressure of the cleaning operation, can be maintained constant and thewall surface can be cleaned substantially uniformly. The pressure ofcontact between the partition 40 and the wall surface 4 is affected bythe pressure of the fluid acting on the partition 40 substantiallyirrespective of the fluid pressure acting on the pressure receivermember 2 owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside andoutside of the pressure reduction zone 6, and can be easily changed bychanging the pressure receiving area of the partition 40. In thisregard, a suction force required for the adherence of the device to thewall surface 4 can be obtained by prescribing the pressure-receivingarea of the pressure receiver member 2 at a suitable value.

Since in the cleaning operation, some gap exists between the partition40 and the wall surface 4 by the rough nature of the wall surface 4, thefluid from outside flows at high speed into the pressure reduction zone6 via the gap between the partition 40 and the wall surface 4. As aresult, dust and dirt generated during and cleaning are carried to theinside of the pressure reduction zone 6 on the high-speed fluid and istherefore prevented from scattering out of the device. The dust and dirtcarried into the pressure reduction zone 6 is transferred to theseparator 57 through the flexible hose 56 together with the fluid withinthe pressure reduction zone 6 by the action of the vacuum pump 58 andthus recovered by the separator 57.

The partition 40 may be formed of, for example, a brush-like member or aporous material. Alternatively, a plurality of small protrusions may beprovided on that surface of the partition 40 which makes contact withthe wall surface 4, and this can also increase the cleaning efficiencyduring the cleaning operation.

When the wall surface is to be cleaned, a partition 72 illustrated inFIG. 5-B may be conveniently used instead of the partition 40 shown inFIGS. 1 to 4 and 5-A.

In FIG. 5-B showing the peripheral edge portion of the presence receivermember 2, the partition 72 is formed of an annular member made of aflexible material such as a polyurethane rubber. As is clear from FIG.5-B, the partition 72 includes a main portion 78 extending outwardlytoward the wall surface 4 from its one end connected to the peripheraledge portion of the pressure receiver member 2 by a suitable means suchas a bolt 74 and having a free end portion 76 adapted to make contactwith the wall surface 4, and an extension 80 extending outwardly fromthe free end portion 76 away from the wall surface 4. Since thepartition 72 itself is formed of a flexible material, the free end 76 ofthe main portion 78 can be displaced toward and away from the wallsurface 4 by a relatively small force because of the flexibility of themain portion 78.

Accordingly, when the partition 72 is shown in FIG. 5-B partly on anenlarged scale is used instead of the partition 40 shown in FIG. 5-Apartly on an enlarged scale, a similar effect can be produced becausethat portion of the partition 72 which makes contact with the wallsurface 4 (i.e., the free end 76 of the main portion 78) can bedisplaced toward and away from the wall surface 4 by a relatively smallforce. Specifically, by the fluid pressure acting on the partition 72owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone 6, the free end portion 76 of the mainportion 78 is brought into contact with the wall surface 4. In themeantime, the fluid pressure acting on the pressure receiver member 2owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone 6 is transmitted to the wheels 32a, 32b,32c and 32d via the main body 12 of the device and the frame member 28and further to the wall surface 4 via these wheels 32a and to 32d. As aresult, the device is caused to adhere to the wall surface 4 by suction.

Since the partition 72 has the extension 80 extending outwardly from thefree end portion 76 to be contacted with the wall surface 4 and in adirection away from the wall surface 4, the use of the partition 72 hasthe advantage that even when protrusions exist on the wall surface 4,the partition 72 does not warp inwardly during the travelling of thedevice to be described, and can easily ride over the protrusions by theaction of the extension 80.

When it is desired to remove solid matter adhering to the wall surface4, a blade 82 may be attached as shown in FIG. 6 to the partition 72shown in FIG. 5-B. In FIG. 6, the blade 82 which can be formed from ametallic material is attached to the partition 72, more specifically tothat surface of the extension 80 which faces the wall surface 4, by asuitable means such as a bolt 84. Accordingly, the blade 82 rotates as aunit with the partition 72.

When the partition 72 equipped with the blade 82 is used, the rotatingblade 82 acts on the solid matter adhering to the wall surface 4, andduring the cleaning of the wall surface 4 by the partition 72, the solidmatter can be surely removed by the blade 82.

The partition 72 shown in FIG. 6 can be conveniently used for cleaningthe outside wall surface of a ship, and solid matter such as barnaclesadhering to the outside wall surface of the ship can be easily removedby the action of the rotating blade 82.

Again with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the illustrated device can becaused to travel in a required manner while adhering to the wall surfaceby operating the electric motors 34a and 34b. For example, when thewheels 32a and 32b and the wheels 32c and 32d are rotated in the samedirection by operating the electric motors 34a and 34b, the deviceadvances straight along the wall surface 4. When the wheels 32a and 32b,and the wheels 32c and 32d are rotated in an opposite direction byoperating the electric motors 34a and 34b, the device moves whilerotating about its axis and is directed in the desired direction.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, means for creating avacuum in the pressure reduction zone is not directly mounted on thepressure receiver member, but is attached to a track movable over theground. Instead of this arrangement, such means may be directly providedin the pressure receiver member as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIGS. 7 and 8 shown a second embodiment of the device in accordance withthis invention. The device in the second embodiment has a pressurereceiver member 102 which can be formed of a rigid or semirigidmaterial. In the second embodiment, too, the pressure receiver member102 is nearly circular as a whole. One end portion of a shaft member 104is threadedly secured to a central portion of the pressure receivermember 102, and the other end of the shaft member 104 extends outwardlyfrom the outside surface of the pressure receiver member 102 (thatsurface which is opposite to the surface facing a wall surface 106) in adirection substantially perpendicular to the pressure receiver member102. The shaft member 104 is rotatably supported on the main body 110 ofthe device through bearings 108, and its other end is drivinglyconnected to the output shaft of a driving source 114 such as anelectric motor mounted on the main body 110 of the device via aconnecting means 112. The bearings 108 used are those for thrust loadsand for radial loads. Hence, when the driving source 114 is rotated, thepressure receiver member 102 is rotated via the shaft member 104 aboutthe central axis of the shaft member 104, namely about an axis ofrotation extending substantially perpendicularly to the wall surface106.

In the second embodiment, means for creating a vacuum within a pressurereduction zone 118 defined by the pressure receiver member 102, apartition 116 attached to the pressure receiver member 102 and the wallsurface 106 is mounted on the pressure receiver member 102. Such meansis comprised of a plurality of vanes 120. More specifically, an annularopening is formed in the pressure receiver member 102, and the pluralityof (eight in the illustrated embodiment) vanes 120 are disposed withinthe annular opening 122 at predetermined intervals. The vanes 120 may bedetachably mounted on the pressure receiver member 102, or as shown inthe illustrated embodiment, may be formed as an integral unit with thepressure receiver member 102. These vanes 120 may be of any shape whichpermits a fluid within the pressure reduction zone 118 to be dischargedoutside through the annular opening 122 when the pressure receivermember 102 is rotated by the driving source 114.

The remainder of the device in the second embodiment is of substantiallythe same structure as the first embodiment. Specifically, a rigid framemember 124 is fixed to the main body 110 of the device, and wheels 128a,128b, 128c and 128d are rotatably mounted on four leg portions 126a,126b, 126c and 126d of the frame member 124. Two electric motors 130aand 130b constituting a driving source for travelling are provided inthe frame member 124. To the peripheral portion of the pressure receivermember 102 is connected by a suitable means such as a bolt 132 apartition 116 having substantially the same structure as the partition42 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 5-A. Alternatively, the partition 72illustrated in FIG. 5-B or 6 may be used instead of the partition 116.

When the driving source 114 is operated in the second embodiment, thepressure receiver member 102 is rotated in a predetermined direction viathe shaft member 104. As a result, the vanes 120 provided in thepressure receiver member 102 rotate as a unit with the pressure receivermember, and a fluid (for example, sea water when the device is used inthe sea) within the pressure reduction zone 118 is discharged outsidethrough the annular opening 122 to thereby create vacuum within thepressure reduction zone 118 (in other words, to maintain the pressurereduction zone at a low pressure). Since the partition 116 hassubstantially the same structure as the first embodiment and isconnected to the pressure receiver member 102, the fluid pressure actingon the pressure receiver member 102 owing to a difference in fluidpressure between the inside and outside of the pressure reduction zone118 is transmitted to the wheels 128a, 128b, 128c and 128d through theshaft member 104, the bearings 108, the main body 110 of device and theframe member 124, and further to the wall surface 106 via these wheels128 a to 128d to thereby cause the device to adhere to the wall surface106 by suction. In the meanwhile, the fluid pressure acting on thepartition 116, particularly an annular member 134, owing to a differencein fluid pressure between the inside and outside of the pressurereduction zone 118 biases the partition 116, that is the annular member134 and an annular member 136, toward the wall surface 106. As a result,the annular member 136 is brought into contact with the wall surface106. Furthermore, the partition 116 is rotated as a unit with thepressure receiver member 102, and the wall surface 106 is consequentlycleaned.

Accordingly, the second embodiment also achieves the same result as thefirst embodiment. Furthermore, the device of the second embodiment canbe made more simplified and reduced in size because the driving source114 can be utilized not only to rotate the partition 116 (in otherwords, to cause it to act for treating the wall surface 106) but also torotate the vanes 120 (in other words, to cause it to act for pressurereduction in the pressure reduction zone 118).

If desired, an ejector may be provided directly in the pressure receivermember instead of providing the vanes.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the pressurereceiver memeber and the partition are moved with respect to the mainbody of the device. Instead of this construction, the device may also beconstructed such that the partition is moved with respect to thepressure receiver member as shown, for example, in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of this invention. The illustrateddevice includes a pressure receiver member 202 which may be formed of arigid or semirigid material. In the third embodiment, the pressurereceiver member 202 is of a nearly cylindrical box-like shape and isopened at that side which faces a wall surface 204.

A nearly circular rotating plate 208, which may be formed of, forexample, a steel plate is disposed on that side of an opening 206 in thepressure receiver member 202 which faces the wall surface 204. A drivingsource 210 is mounted on the top wall of the pressure receiver member202, and the output side of the driving source 210 extends through thepressure receiver member 202 and projects from the opening 206 towardthe wall surface 204. To the projecting output end of the driving source210 is fixed a central portion of the rotating plate 208 by a suitablemeans such as a bolt 212.

A partition 214 is attached to the peripheral edge portion of therotating plate 208. The illustrated partition 214 is of substantiallythe same structure as the partition 72 shown in FIG. 5-B, and includes amain portion 218 extending outwardly toward the wall surface 204 fromits one end connected to the rotating plate 208 by a suitable means suchas a bolt and having a free end portion 216 to be connected with thewall surface 204, and an extension 220 extending outwardly from the mainportion 218 in a direction away from the wall surface 204. As can beclearly seen from FIG. 9, the partition 214 defines a pressure reductionzone 222 in cooperation with the pressure receiver member 202 and thewall surface 204. The rotating plate 208 has formed therein a pluralityof holes 224 for communication between a first zone of the pressurereduction zone 222 defined by the rotating plate 208, the partition 214and the wall surface 204 and a second zone of the pressure reductionzone 222 defined by the rotating plate 208 and the pressure receivermember 202. Instead of the partition 214, the partition shown in FIGS. 1to 4 and 5-A and the partition shown in FIG. 6 may be used.

Preferably, an annular seal member 226 is provided between the pressurereceiver member 202 and the rotating plate 208 as shown in FIG. 9. Theseal member 226 is connected at one end portion to the periphery portionof the opening 206 of the pressure receiver member 202 by a suitablemeans, and extends outwardly from this end portion toward the rotatingplate 208. The other end portion of the seal member 226 is thus kept incontact with the rotating plate 208. Desirably, the seal member 226 isformed of a non-permeable and flexible material such as a rubber.Because of the above-mentioned structure, when the driving source 210 isrotated, the rotating plate 208 and the partition 214 are rotated as aunit in a predetermined direction about the central axis of the outputportion of the driving source 210, i.e. an axis of rotation extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to the wall surface 204, with respect tothe pressure receiver member 202 and the seal member 226.

The remainder of the device in the third embodiment has nearly the samestructure as the first embodiment. Specifically, four leg portions 228(only two of which are shown in FIG. 9) are fixed to the pressurereceiver member 202, and wheels 230 (only two of which are shown in FIG.9) are rotatably mounted on the leg portions 228. Two electric motors(not shown) constituting a travelling driving source are provided in thepressure receiver member 202. One electric motor rotates two wheels (thetwo wheels not shown in FIG. 9). A connecting part 232 is provided as anintegral unit in the side wall of the pressure receiver member 202 so asto communicate with an evacuating means (not shown) such as a vacuumpump via a flexible hose 234.

When the evacuating means (not shown) is operated in the thirdembodiment, a fluid within the pressure reduction zone 222 is dischargedoutside through the connecting part 232 and the flexible hose 234 by theaction of the evacuating means, and consequently, a vacuum is createdwithin the pressure reduction zone 222. Since the partition 214 is ofsubstantially the same structure as the partition shown in FIG. 5-B, thefluid pressure acting on the pressure receiver member 202 owing to adifference in fluid pressure between the inside and outside of thepressure reduction zone 222 is transmitted to the wheels 230 via the legportions 228, and further to the wall surface 204 via the four wheels230 to thereby cause the device to adhere to the wall surface 204 bysuction. In the meanwhile, the fluid pressure acting on the partition214 owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside andoutside of the pressure reduction zone 222 biases the partition 214toward the wall surface 204. As a result, the free end portion 216 ofthe main portion 218 of the partition 214 is brought into contact withthe wall surface 204. Furthermore, the fluid pressure acting on the sealmember owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside andoutside of the pressure reduction zone 222 biases the seal member 226toward the rotating plate 208 and brings the other end portion of theseal member 226 into contact with the rotating plate 208. As a result, asubstantially fluid-tight seal is maintained between the pressurereceiver member 202 and the rotating plate 208, and an outside fluid issurely prevented from flowing into the pressure reduction zone 222through a space between the rotating plate 208 and the seal member 226.

When the driving source 210 is actuated while the device is adhering tothe wall surface 204 in this manner, the partition 214 is rotatedtogether with the rotating plate 208 in a predetermined direction tothereby clean the wall surface 204.

Accordingly, the third embodiment also achieves substantially the sameoperation and advantage as the first embodiment.

In the first to third embodiments, the partition is rotated about anaxis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the wall surface.Because of this, the partition has a sealing function of defining thepressure reduction zone in cooperation with the pressure receiver memberand the wall surface, and a treating function of performing a requiredtreatment (such as cleaning) by being moved with respect to the pressurereceiver member or the main body of the device. Thus, the devices do notseparately require a treating means for treating the wall surface, andcan be simplified and reduced in size as compared with the prior artdevices.

In the following embodiments, the partition may be caused to have thesealing function and the travelling function, or a combination of thesealing function, the travelling function and the treating function, aswill be described below. Incidentally, FIGS. 1 to 9 show the device asit adheres by suction to a substantially perpendicular wall surface, andFIGS. 10 to 15 show the device as it adheres by suction to asubstantially horizontal wall surface.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show a fourth embodiment of the device constructed inaccordance with this invention. The illustrated device includes apressure receiver member 302 which can be formed of a rigid or semirigidmaterial. In the fourth embodiment, the pressure receiver member 302 isof nearly parallelpipedal box-like shape, and a nearly circular opening306 is formed on that side which faces a wall surface 304.

A nearly circular rotating plate 308 which can be formed of, forexample, a steel plate is disposed on that side of the opening 306 ofthe pressure receiver member 302 which faces the wall surface 304 (i.e.,on that side of the pressure receiver member 302 which faces the wallsurface 304). A driving source 310 such as an electric motor capable ofrotating in normal and reverse directions is mounted on the top wall ofthe pressure receiver member 302, and an output shaft 310a of thedriving source 310 extends toward the wall surface 304. Over therotating plate 308 is provided a connecting member 314 having a securingportion 312a and arm portions 312b extending radially from the securingportion 312b, and the arm portions 312b are fixed to the rotating plate308. The securing portion 312a of the connecting member 314 is connectedto the output shaft 310a of the driving source 310.

A partition 316 is disposed on the peripheral edge portion of therotating plate 308. As can be seen from FIG. 12, the partition 316defines a pressure reduction zone 318 in cooperation with the pressurereceiver member 302 and the wall surface 304. As shown in the drawings,the partition 316 preferably has seal portion 320 disposed on theperipheral portion of the rotating plate 308 and defining the pressurereduction zone 318 in cooperation with the pressure receiver member 302and the wall surface 304, and a supporting portion 322 disposed inwardlyof the seal portion 320. Preferably, at least that part of the sealportion 320 which makes contact with the wall surface 304 is soconstructed as to be able to be displaced toward and away from the wallsurface 304 by a relatively small force with respect to the pressurereceiver member 302. In the illustrated embodiment, the supportingportion 322 is formed of an annular member 324 and is fixed to thatsurface of the rotating plate 308 which faces the wall surface 304. Theseal portion 320 comprises a main portion 328 extending from one end tothe other end (free end) outwardly and toward the wall surface 304 andhaving a free end portion 326 to be contacted with the wall surface 304,and an extension 330 extending from the free end portion 326 of the mainportion 328 outwardly and away from the wall surface 304, and the oneend portion of the main portion 328 is connected to the top peripheralsurface of the annular member 324. The one end portion of the mainportion 328 may alternatively be directly connected to the peripheraledge portion of the rotating plate 308. The seal portion 320 preferablyhas flexibility, and the supporting portion 322 is preferably relativelyrigid. In the illustrated embodiment, the seal portion 320 and thesupporting portion 322 are formed of a polyurethane rubber into aone-piece unit. The seal portion 320 has a relatively small thickness,and the supporting portion 322 has a relatively large thickness.Alternatively, the seal portion may be formed of a flexible material,and the supporting member 322 is separately formed of a relatively rigidmaterial such as hard rubber. The seal portion 320 of the partition 316may have substantially the same structure as the partition shown inFIGS. 1 to 4 and 5-A. If desired, a blade may be attached to it as shownin FIG. 6.

The rotating plate 308 to which the partition 316 is attached has formedtherein a plurality of holes 332 for communication between a first zoneof the pressure reduction zone 318 defined by the rotating plate 308,the partition 316 (particularly the seal portion 320) and the wallsurface 304 and a second zone of the pressure reduction zone 318 definedby the rotating plate 308 and the pressure receiver member 302.Preferably, an annular seal member 334 is disposed between the pressurereceiver member 302 and the rotating plate 308 as shown in FIG. 12. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the seal member 334 is connected at one endportion to the peripheral surface of a flange portion 336 provided inthe peripheral edge of the opening 306 of the pressure receiver member302, and extends from the one end portion outwardly and toward therotating plate 308. The other end portion of the seal member 334 is thuskept in contact with the rotating plate 308. Desirably, the seal member334 is made of a non-permeable and flexible material such as rubber.

It is critical that the fourth embodiment is constructed such that therotating plate 308, and therefore the partition 316, rotates about anaxis 338 of rotation slighly inclined to an axis 336 substantiallyperpendicular to the wall surface 304. For this purpose, in the fourthembodiment, the central axis of the output shaft 310a of the drivingsource 310 is slightly inclined to the axis 336. Thus, when the drivingsource 338 is operated, the rotating plate 308 and the partition 316rotate as a unit about the central axis of the output shaft 310a, i.e.the axis 338 of rotation slightly inclined to the axis 336, via theconnecting member 314. The rotation of the partition 316 about theslightly inclined axis 338 of rotation makes the partition 316 functionalso as a travelling means as will be described in detail hereinbelow.The angle α formed between the axis 336 substantially perpendicular tothe wall surface 304 and the central axis of the output shaft 310a ofthe driving source 310, i.e. the axis 338 of rotation of the partition316 (in other words, the angle α of inclination of the axis 338 ofrotation of the partition 316) is set at about 3 degrees in theillustrated embodiment.

A rigid frame member 340 is fixed to the pressure receiver member 302.The rigid frame member 340 extends from its one end portion fixed to thepressure receiver member 302 in a direction opposite to the inclineddirection of the rotation axis 338 of the partition 316, and its otherend portion is fixed to a deceleration means 342 (more specifically, ahousing for the deceleration means 342). The input side of thedeceleration means 342 is drivingly connected to an electric motor 344rotatably in normal and reverse directions constituting a driving sourceand mounted on the housing of the deceleration means 342. The outputside of the deceleration means 342 is drivingly connected to a wheel 346rotatably mounted on the housing. The rigid frame 340 has a leg portion348 on which a wheel 350 is rotatably mounted. Sprockets 346a and 350aare provided integrally in the wheels 346 and 350, and a roller chain352 is wrapped between the sprockets 346a and 350a. Preferably, amaterial having a high coefficient of friction such as rubber isdisposed on the peripheral surfaces of the wheels 346 and 350 in orderto increase a frictional force between them and the wall surface 304.Thus, when the electric motor 344 is rotated, the wheel 346 is rotatedvia the deceleration means 342 and the wheel 350 is also rotated via therollar chain 352. To cause the device to travel in a required manner, atleast one driving wheel is provided. Instead of the wheel, at least onedriven endless track may be provided. It is possible also to connect anoperating rod or the like to the pressure receiver member 302 and movethe device in the desired direction by an operator operating theoperating rod without the need to provide such a wheel or endless trackin the pressure receiver member 302. As will be understood from thefollowing description, it is preferred that the aforesaid pair of wheels346 and 350 to be disposed substantially parallel to the direction of atangent to that site of the supporting portion 322 which makes contactwith the wall surface 304.

The pressure reduction zone 318 defined by the pressure receiver member302, the wall surface 304 and the partition 316 communicates with anevacuating means 352 (means for producing a vacuum within the pressurereduction zone 318) such as a vacuum pump. In the illustratedembodiment, a connecting portion 354 communicating with the pressurereduction zone 318 is provided on the top wall of the pressure receivermember 302, and one end portion of a flexible hose 356 is connected tothe connecting portion 354. The other end portion of the flexible hose356 communicates with the evacuating means 352.

Now, the operation and advantages of the device in the fourth embodimentwill be described.

When the evacuating means 352 is operated, a fluid within the pressurereduction zone 318 (for example, air when the device is used in the air)is discharged outside through the flexibel hose 356 by the action of theevacuating means 352, and as a result, a vacuum is created within thepressure reduction zone 318. Since the seal portion 320 is flexible andrelatively thin, the fluid pressure acting on the pressure receivermember 302 owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the insideand outside of the pressure reduction zone 318 is partly transmitted tothe supporting portion 324 of the partition 316 via the driving source310, the connecting member 314 and the rotating plate 308, and theremainder is transmitted to the wheels 346 and 350 via the frame member340, the deceleration means 342 (specifically, its housing), etc.Finally, the above fluid pressure is transmitted to the wall surface 304via the supporting portion 324 of the partition 316 and the wheels 346and 350, and consequently, the device is caused to adhere to the wallsurface 304 by suction. At this time, that site of the supportingportion 322 of the partition 316 which is substantially remotest fromthe wheels 346 and 350 is brought into contact with the wall surface 304as clearly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 since the rotation axis 338 of thepartition 316 is slightly inclined toward that side which is opposite tothe side of the wheels 346 and 350.

On the other hand, the fluid pressure acting on the seal portion 320 ofthe partition 316 owing to a difference in fluid pressure between theinside and outside of the pressure reduction zone 318 biases the sealportion 320 toward the wall surface 304 and thereby brings the free endportion 326 of the main portion 328 of the seal portion 320 into contactwith the wall surface 302. The partition 316 is symmetrical, but isdeformed as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 as a result of the device adheringto the wall surface 304 by suction. The fluid pressure acting on theseal member 334 owing to a difference in fluid pressure between theinside and outside of the pressure reduction zone 318, as in the thirdembodiment, biases the seal member 334 toward the rotating plate 308 andthereby brings the other end portion of the seal member 334 into contactwith the rotating plate 308.

When the driving source 310 is energized during the adherence of thedevice to the wall surface by suction, the partition 316 is rotated in apredetermined direction about the axis 338 of rotation slightly inclinedto the axis 336 extending substantially perpendicularly to the wallsurface 304 via the connecting member 314 and the rotating plate 308,and consequently, the wall surface 304 is cleaned. In the abovesuction-adhering state, a part of the supporting portion 322 and theseal portion 320 are kept in contact with the wall surface 304, andtherefore, the wall surface is cleaned by the action of a part of thesupporting portion 322 and the seal portion 320. Since the supportingportion 322 also functions as a travelling means as will be describedbelow, it moves little relative to the wall surface 304, and therefore,the above cleaning is carried out mainly by the seal portion 320 of thepartition 316. When the partition 316 is rotated as above, the partition316, particularly its supporting portion 322, acts inclinedly to thewall surface (in other words, only a part of the annular part of thesupporting portion 322 acts on the wall surface 304), and as a result, aforce tending to move the device is generated between the supportingportion 322 and the wall surface 304. Hence, the device can be caused totravel in a required manner by the partition 316 rotated in this way andthe wheels 346 and 350 driven by the electric motor 344. This will befurther described with reference to FIGS. 13-A and 13-B. When thedriving source 310 is rotated in a normal direction to rotate thepartition 316, and therefore the supporting portion 322, in thedirection of an arrow 358, the device tends to move in the directionshown by an arrow 360, i.e. in a direction tangentially opposite to therotating direction at the site of contact between the supporting portion322 and the wall surface 304. If at this time, the electric motor 344 isrotated in a normal direction to rotate the wheels 346 and 350 in thedirection shown by an arrow 362 and the peripheral speed of the site ofcontact between the supporting portion 322 and the wall surface 304 ismade substantially equal to the peripheral speed of the site of contactbetween the wheels 346 and 350 and the wall surface 304, the devicemoves straight in the direction of arrow 360. On the other hand, if theformer peripheral speed differs from the latter peripheral speed (forexample, if the former is larger than the latter) during the rotation ofthe driving source 310 and the electric motor in a normal direction, thesupporting portion 322 advances ahead and the device move while curvingin the direction of an arrow 364 (opposite to the rotating direction ofthe supporting portion 322). If the former is smaller than the latter,the wheels 346 and 350 advance ahead, and the device moves while curvingin the direction of an arrow 366 (the rotating direction of thesupporting portion 322). When the wheels 346 and 350 are rotated in thedirection of arrow 362 by rotating the electric motor 344 in a normaldirection and in this state the driving source 310 is rotated in thereverse direction to rotate the partition 316 and therefore thesupporting portion 322, in the direction shown by an arrow 368, thedevice pivots nearly about its central axis in the direction shown by anarrow 370 (the rotating direction of the supporting portion 322). Duringthe rotation of the electric motor 344 in the reverse direction, thetravelling direction of the device can be changed in the same way.

To obtain a large contact area between the supporting portion 322 andthe wall surface 304, it is preferred that the shape of the undersurface of the supporting portion 322 should be designed so as to besubstantially parallel to the wall surface 304 at that site of the undersurface which makes contact with the wall surface 304.

In the device according to the fourth embodiment described above, thepartition 316 is rotated about the rotation axis 338 slightly inclinedto the axis 336 which is substantially perpendicular to the wall surface304. Because of this, the partition 316 has a sealing function ofdefining the pressure reduction zone 318 in cooperation with thepressure receiver member 302 and the wall surface 304, a treatingfunction of treating the wall surface 304 as desired (for example,cleaning it) by being rotated relative to the pressure receiver member302, and a travelling function of moving relative to the wall surface304 by being rotated inclinedly to the wall surface 304. Accordingly,the device in this embodiment does not separately require means fortreating the wall surface, and a travelling means for moving the devicecan partly be omitted. Hence, further simplification and size reductioncan be achieved in the device movable along the wall surface.

The device shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 may be used by separately attachingtreating means such as cleaning means and coating means, or inspectionmeans.

FIG. 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the device in accordance with thisinvention. This embodiment consists of two units having the device(excepting the travelling means such as the wheels 346 and 350) of thefourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 which are connected to eachother. For convenience of description, the same parts as shown in FIGS.10 to 13 are designated by the same reference numerals in FIG. 14.

In FIG. 14, the illustrated device includes two units each having apressure receiver member 302. A rotating plate 308 is disposed on theside of an opening 306 of each pressure receiver member 302 for rotationby the driving source 310. A partition is attached to each rotatingplate 308. Thus, two separate pressure reduction zones 318 are definedby the individual pressure receiver members 302 and the partitions 316.The two pressure receiver members 302 are linked to each other by aframe 372. The pressure receiver member 302, the rotating plate 308 andthe partition 316 in each unit are of substantially the same structuresand functions as in the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12,and a detailed description of these is omitted herein.

In the fifth embodiment, the supporting portion 322 of the partition 316in one unit (the left one in FIG. 14) and the supporting portion 322 ofthe partition 316 in the other (the right one in FIG. 14) act astravelling means for the device. As a result, the device can be causedto travel in the desired manner without the need for particulartravelling means such as wheels.

In the fifth embodiment, two units including the pressure receivermember and the partition are provided and connected to each other. Thisstructure is not limitative, and if desired, three or more unitsincluding the pressure receiver member and the partition may be providedand be connected to each other via the frame. If further required,follower wheels or driving wheels may be provided in the frame or thepressure receiver members.

FIG. 15 shows a sixth embodiment of the device in accordance with thisinvention. In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, thepartition is rotated about a slightly inclined axis of rotation withrespect to the pressure receiver member. By contrast, in the sixthembodiment, the pressure receiver member and the partition connected tothe pressure receiver member are rotated with respect to the main bodyof the device.

The device illustrated in FIG. 15 has a pressure receiver member 402which can be formed of a rigid or semirigid material. A shaft member 404is fixed to the pressure receiver member 402. The shaft member 404 isrotatably mounted on a main body 408 of the device via bearings 406. Apartition 412 is provided on that surface of the pressure receivermember 402 which faces a wall surface 410. The partition 412 includes aseal portion 416 defining a pressure reduction zone 414 in cooperationwith the pressure receiver member 402 and the wall surface 410 and asupporting portion 418 disposed inwardly of the seal portion 416. Theseal portion 416 and the supporting portion 418 are separately formed.The seal portion 416 is formed of a relatively thin annular memberformed of a flexible material. The seal portion 416 includes a mainportion 420 extending from its one end portion connected to the pressurereceiver member 402 outwardly and toward the wall surface 410 and havinga free end portion 419 to be brought into contact with the wall surface410, and an extension 422 extending outwardly from the free end portion419 in a direction away from the wall surface 410. The supportingportion 418 is constucted of a relatively thick annular member made of arelatively rigid material and is fixed to the inside of the position ofattaching the seal portion 416 of the pressure receiver member 402.Furthermore, one end of a rigid frame member 424 is fixed to the mainbody 408 of the device, and on the other end of the frame member 424 arerotatably mounted a pair of wheels 426 (only one of which is shown inFIG. 15) as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. The wheels426 are rotated by the action of an electric motor 428.

It is critical that in the sixth embodiment, the pressure receivermember 402 and the partition 412 are rotated about an axis 432 ofrotation slightly inclined to a an axis 430 which is substantiallyperpendicular to the wall surface 410. For this purpose, the centralaxis of the shaft member 404 fixed to the pressure receiver member 402is slightly inclined to the axis 430, for example at an inclinationangle of 3 degrees (α=3°).

The remainder of the device of the sixth embodiment has substantiallythe same structure as the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

When the evacuation means 434 such as a vacuum pump is actuated in thedevice of the sixth embodiment, the fluid within the pressure reductionzone 414 is discharged outside via a hollow portion 436 of the shaftmember 404, a plurality of holes 438 formed in the shaft member 404, anannular space 440 and a flexible hose 442 to thereby produce a vacuumwithin the pressure reduction zone 414. Since the seal portion 416 isadapted to be displaced, owing to the flexibility of its main portion420, in a direction in which the free end portion 419 of the mainportion 420 moves toward and away from wall surface 410, the fluidpressure acting on the pressure receiver member 402 owing to adifference in fluid pressure between the inside and outside of thepressure reduction zone 414 is partly transmitted to the supportingportion 418 of the partition 412. The remainder is transmitted to thewheels 426 via the shaft member 404, the bearings 406, the main body 408of the device and the frame member 424. Finally, the above fluidpressure is transmitted to the wall surface 410 via the supportingportion 418 of the partition 412 and the wheels 426 thereby to cause thedevice to adhere to the wall surface 410 by suction. On the other hand,the fluid pressure acting on the seal portion 416 of the partition 412owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone 414 biases the seal portion 416 towardthe wall surface 410 and thereby brings the free end portion 419 of themain portion 420 of the seal portion 416 into contact with the wallsurface 410.

When the driving source 436 is energized during the suction-adhereing ofthe device to the wall surface 410, the pressure receiver member 402together with the partition 412 is rotated about the rotation axis 432slightly inclined to the axis 430 via a sprocket 438, a roller chain440, a sprocket 442 and the shaft member 404 thereby to clean the wallsurface 410. When the partition 412, particularly its supporting portion418, is so rotated, a force tending to move the device is generatedbetween the wall surface 410 and that site of the supporting portion 418which makes contact with the wall surface 410, as in the fourthembodiment. As a result, the device is caused to travel in a requiredmanner along the wall surface 410 by the action of the supportingportion 418 of the partition 412 and the wheels 426 driven by theelectric motor 428.

As described above, the partition 412 in the device of the sixthembodiment also has a sealing function, a treating function and atravelling function, and achieves substantially the same result as inthe fourth embodiment.

The device of the sixth embodiment may also be used by separatelyattaching treating means such as cleaning means and coating means, orinspection means.

It will be readily understood that the devices of the first to sixthembodiments can be used not only in gases such as atmospheric air butalso in liquids such as water and sea water. These devices can beconveniently used for cleaning the outside wall surface of a ship, theoutside wall surface of an oil reservoir tank, the outside wall surfaceof a tall buiding, the inside wall surface of a core pool of a nuclearreactor, etc.

While the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to thevarious embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it shouldbe understood that the invention is not limited to these specificembodiments, and various changes and modifications are possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention described and claimed herein.

For example, in the above embodiments, the partition is made of arubbery material, and the invention has been described with reference toapplication of the device to the cleaning of a wall surface. Forcleaning purposes, the partition may also be made of a woven or nonwovenfabric. Furthermore, by forming the partition from a rubber containingabrasive grains, the device of this invention can be applied to thepolishing or grinding of a wall surface. Alternatively, by making thepartition from a liquid-impregnable material such as a sponge rubber,the device of the invention can also be applied to the coating of aliquid such as a glossing agent on a wall surface.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device capable of adhering to a wall surface bysuction by the pressure of an ambient fluid and treating the wallsurface, said device comprisinga main body a plurality of wallcontacting members mounted on the main body and adapted to enable themain body to travel on said wall surface, a pressure receiver membermounted on the main body for free relative movement with respect to themain body, said pressure receiver member being mounted on the main bodyfor rotational movement about an axis which is substantiallyperpendicular to the wall surface; a partition provided on that side ofthe pressure receiver member which faces the wall surface, one endportion of the partition being connected to the pressure receivermember, and a part of the partition being adapted to make contact withthe wall surface to define a pressure reduction zone in cooperation withthe pressure receiver member and the wall surface, means for creating avacuum within the pressure reduction zone by discharging the fluid fromthe pressure reduction zone, said partition being constructed such thatat least said part thereof adapted to make contact with the wall surfaceis movable toward and away from the wall surface with respect to thepressure receiver member; said part of the partition being brought intocontact with the wall surface by the fluid pressure acting on thepartition owing to a difference in fluid pressure between the inside andoutside of the pressure reduction zone; and meanwhile, the fluidpressure acting on the pressure receiver member owing to a difference influid pressure between the inside and outside of the pressure reductionzone being transmitted to the wall surface from the main body by thewall contacting member so as to adhere the device to the wall surface bysuction, a driving source mounted on the main body for moving thepressure receiver member with respect to the main body; wherein thedevice is caused to adhere to the wall surface by suction owing to adifference in fluid pressure between the inside and outside of thepressure reduction zone, and the wall surface is treated by moving thepartition by the driving source.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein adriving source is mounted on the main body for driving the wallcontacting members. PG,44
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said one endportion of the partition is connected to the pressure receiver member sothat it can be displaced toward and away from the wall surface by arelatively small force; and the displacement of said one end portion ofthe partition displaces said part of the partition toward and away fromthe wall surface.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the partition isformed of a flexible material and comprises a main portion extendingoutwardly and toward the wall surface from said one end portionconnected to the pressure receiver member having a free end portion tobe contacted with the wall surface, and an extension extending furtheroutwardly from the free end portion in a direction away from the wallsurface; and by the flexibility of the main portion itself of thepartition, the free end portion of the main portion is displaced towardand away from the wall surface by a relatively small force.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein a blade is attached to the partition forremoving solid matter adhering to the wall surface.
 6. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the vacuum creating means is an evacuating meanscommunicating with the pressure reduction zone via a flexible hose.
 7. Adevice capable of adhering to a wall surface by suction by the pressureof an ambient fluid and treating the wall surface, said devicecomprisinga main body, a pressure receiver member mounted on the mainbody for free relative movement with respect to the main body, apartition provided on that side of the pressure receiver member whichfaces the wall surface, one end portion of the partition being connectedto the pressure receiver member, and a part of the partition beingadapted to make contact with the wall surface to define a pressurereduction zone in cooperation with the pressure receiver member and thewall surface, a blade attached to the partition for removing solidmatter adhering to the wall surface, means for creating a vacuum withinthe pressure reduction zone by discharging fluid from the pressurereduction zone, and a driving source mounted on the main body for movingthe pressure receiver member with respect to the main body; wherein thedevice is caused to adhere to the wall surface by suction owing to adifference in fluid pressure between the inside and outside of thepressure reduction zone, and the wall surface is treated by moving thepartition by the driving source.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein thevacuum creating means is an evacuating means communicating with thepressure reduction zone via a flexible hose.
 9. A device for treating awall surface, said device be capable of adhering to a wall surface bysuction by the pressure of ambient fluid, said device comprisinga mainbody provided with a plurality of wall contacting members which arepositioned to contact and travel on said wall, a pressure receivermember mounted on the main body for rotational movement about an axis ofrotation which is substantially perpendicular to the wall surface, apartition having an end portion connected to the pressure receivermember, said partition having a wall-contacting portion which facestoward said wall and is movable relative to the pressure receiver membertoward and into contact with the wall; said pressure receiver member,partition and wall together defining a pressure reduction zone when thepartition contacts the wall, a driving source mounted on the main bodyfor rotating the pressure receiver member about said axis of rotation totreat the wall surface, means for creating a vacuum in the pressurereduction zone by discharging fluid therefrom, said means for creating avacuum providing a pressure differential between the inside and outsideof the pressure reduction zone to bring the wall-contacting portion ofthe partition into contact with the wall surface, said pressuredifferential also exerting on the main body a force which is transmittedto the wall surface by the wall contacting members, whereby the deviceis adhered to the wall by suction.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein adriving source is mounted on the main body for driving the wallcontacting members.
 11. The device of claim 9 wherein thewall-contacting portion of the partition is connected to the pressurereceiver member so that it can be displaced toward and away from thewall surface by a relatively small force; and the displacement of saidend portion of the partition displaces said part of the partition towardand away from the wall surface.
 12. The device of claim 9 wherein thepartition is formed of a flexible material and comprises a main portionextending outwardly and toward the wall surface from the end portionwhich is connected to the pressure receiver member, said partitionhaving a free end portion which is the wall-contacting portion, and anextension extending further outwardly from the free end portion in adirection away from the wall surface; said main portion of the partitionhaving a flexibility such that the free end portion of the main portionis displacable toward and away from the wall surface by a relativelysmall force.
 13. The device of claim 9 wherein a blade is attached tothe partition for removing solid matter adhering to the wall surface.14. The device of claim 9 wherein the vacuum creating means is anevacuating means communicating with the pressure reduction zone via aflexible hose.
 15. The device of claim 9 wherein the vacuum creatingmeans has a plurality of vanes which are disposed at intervals in anannular opening formed in the pressure receiver member and are adaptedto rotate as a unit with the pressure receiver member and to dischargethe fluid from the pressure reduction zone through the annular opening.